We also encourage you to download a flier or poster for the event and help spread the word. A list of organizations co-sponsoring the town hall is listed below (email Jason Walker at jason (at) vocal-ny.org to add your organization if it isn’t already listed!).

The town hall will be part of a series of events called Talking Transitionthat will pioneer the first “open” transition in New York City, transforming the usual closed-door process between Election Day and Inauguration into an opportunity for broad public engagement. The New York Times called it “an ambitious citywide effort…to enlist regular New Yorkers in sharing their views about the city’s future.”

There’s reason for optimism when it comes to fighting HIV, but we have a lot of work to do. Over 1,700 homeless people living with AIDS sleep in HASA shelters every night, and thousands more don’t even qualify for housing assistance because of their CD4 count or immigration status. The CDC estimates that if current trends continue, half of young gay men will have HIV by age 50, with Black and Latino youth at greatest risk. People with a history of injection drug use continue to account for a larger share of HIV/AIDS deaths each year than any other group.

The good news is we know what works, we just need to put it into practice. Responding to people who doubted whether we can really end the epidemic, the nation’s top HIV/AIDS researcher Dr. Tony Fauci said last year, “Any argument that this cannot be achieved because we do not have evidence-based tools is no longer valid.” Our city has borne the highest burden of HIV since the beginning of the epidemic, but it’s also where activism, community responses and scientific innovation has shown we can turn the tide.

If you have questions, or if your organization wants to join the growing list of co-sponsors for this event, please contact Jason Walker at (917) 200-1153 or jason (at) vocal-ny.org.